Lot Essay
Famille noire porcelain is among the most contraversial of all Qing Dynasty enamelled ware, since large quantities of standard famille verte vases (and possibly vessels) are likely to have been over-decorated in the late 19th Century with a rich black wash, to appeal to the insatiable hunger among new collectors for this most expensive of Kangxi enamelled porcelain. However, certain smaller vessels can be confidently ascribed to the Kangxi period with original black grounds, since they were reproduced at the same time or slightly afterwards by Dutch Delft potters. Teapots of this kind, as well as other smaller items from tea-services, can be found as early 18th Century Dutch Delft. See Anthony du Boulay, Chinese Porcelain, 1973, fig.80, p.59 for a very similar teapot and cover, and p.58 where the author says "there has never been any question regarding the authenticity of pieces like the teapot illustrated in figure 80". See also the similar teapot originally in the C. L. Paget Collection, illustrated by R. Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, pl.XXVI, fig.1. Similar teapots have appeared in many well-known collections, and the following have been sold in these Rooms: 4 June 1929, lot 14, the property of H. Johnstone; 18 March 1930, lots 34 and 35, from the Collection of Marcus D. Ezekiel; 24 November 1932, lot 55, from the Pratt Collection; 15 and 16 May 1946, lot 98, from the W. J. Holt Collection; and 19 April 1983, lot 6, formerly belonging to the Mount Trust and exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1970, Catalogue no.111, and illustrated by A. du Boulay, op.cit., 1984, p.231, fig.3.